What Lights to Use in Heavy Rain?

[DiStephen]

In heavy rain, you should turn on the headlights or front fog lights. Introduction to Car Headlights: Car headlights, also known as car front lights or car LED daytime running lights, serve as the 'eyes' of the car. They not only relate to the owner's external image but are also crucial for safe driving at night or in bad weather conditions. The use and maintenance of car lights should not be overlooked. Introduction to Fog Lights: Fog lights generally refer to car fog lights. Installed at the front and rear of the car, fog lights are used for illuminating the road and providing safety warnings when driving in rainy or foggy conditions. They enhance visibility for the driver and other road users.

[OMelanie]

In heavy rain, the most important lights to turn on are the front and rear fog lights. The yellow wavelength of fog lights can penetrate rain and fog, providing much better illumination than regular headlights, and unlike high beams, they won't create diffuse reflections that blind oncoming drivers. Last time I encountered a heavy downpour and turned on my rear fog light, the driver behind me rolled down his window to thank me, saying the red fog light was as noticeable as a flare, making it easier to judge the distance than hazard lights. Remember not to misuse hazard lights—traffic laws state they can only be used when visibility drops below 100 meters, otherwise you might get a ticket. When the rain is extremely heavy, also turn on your low beams, set the wipers to the fastest speed, and keep your speed below 60 km/h for safety.

[MaverickRose]

Here's my go-to trick for long-distance driving in heavy rain: turn on the front and rear fog lights along with low beams, but absolutely avoid using hazard lights! You might not know this, but the rapid flashing of hazard lights makes it harder for trailing vehicles to judge your speed, and it disables your turn signals. Once on the highway during a sudden downpour, a car ahead only had its hazards on—when slowing down in a waterlogged area, its brake lights were nearly invisible, almost causing a rear-end collision. Nowadays, new cars come standard with rear fog lights; that red light cuts through rain curtains remarkably well. If you're driving an older car without fog lights, low beams plus parking lights will do, but definitely avoid high beams—water surface glare can be blinding even to yourself.

[OAva]

Personal experience tells you, turning on fog lights during heavy rain can save lives! Last week, I was driving on a winding mountain road when I encountered a downpour with visibility less than 50 meters. The yellow front fog lights illuminated the road markings, while the red rear fog lights alerted vehicles behind me. A car next to me only had hazard lights on, making it impossible to see its path when turning. In fact, the red rear fog lights have three times the penetration power of hazard lights. European cars even feature rain-sensing automatic fog light activation. Remember to check if your rear fog lights are obscured by mud, as many cars have them positioned low and prone to dirt. Turn off fog lights promptly when the rain lightens, as excessive brightness can dazzle following vehicles.

[VivienneFitz]

As a driver with ten years of experience, here's how to use lights during heavy rain: 1. Use front and rear fog lights as the primary lighting; 2. Supplement with low beams; 3. Absolutely avoid high beams—shining strong light on rain is like pointing a flashlight at a mirror; 4. Only use hazard lights when visibility drops below 50 meters. One year during a typhoon, I witnessed a car with hazard lights on rear-end another because the flashing frequency interfered with brake light judgment. Now, I always check my fog lights before driving in the rain, especially the rear fog light, which can easily be blocked by items in the trunk. If you've modified your car with LED lights, be extra cautious—white LED light has poorer penetration in rain compared to the factory-installed yellow fog lights.

[EthanDella]

The core principle of using lights in heavy rain is "to see the road clearly and to be seen by others." My approach is to turn on the front fog lights first to illuminate the nearby road when starting the vehicle, and then immediately activate the rear fog lights after moving. The biggest fear in rainy conditions is that the car behind can't see you and rear-ends you—the red rear fog lights can penetrate three times farther than regular taillights. Once, I drove a friend’s new energy vehicle, and its heavy rain mode automatically turned on both front and rear fog lights, accelerated the wipers, and even switched the AC to defog mode. If driving an older car, it’s advisable to replace the wiper blades in advance and treat the windshield for oil film, as this doubles the effectiveness when combined with fog lights. Remember, in heavy rain, speed control is even more crucial than lighting!